Does Our History Affect Our Present? Free Choice Lesson Plan #1 (60 minutes/1 Hour)
Subject Area:
ELA
Grade Level:
3rd
Unit Title:
Constructing Meaning and Comprehension
GLCEs/ HSCE:
R.CM.03.03 Compare and contrast relationships among characters, events, and key ideas within and across texts to create a deeper understanding; including a narrative to an informational text, a literature selection to a subject area text, and an historical event to a current event.
METS-S/NETS-T
NETS-S 1-C: Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
Essential Questions:
*Essential Questions for Students:
Can our history affect our future? How does our history affect our future or present?
Can we find similarities and differences between the past and the present?
What is a Venn diagram?
What are the separate parts of a Venn diagram?
What does compare mean?
What does contrast mean?
Objectives:
Students will be paired together to compare and contrast historical events to current events with the use of a Venn diagram containing at least 3 facts for each section of the graphic organizer (compare and contrast sections), upon completion students will host a weekly class news segment exceeding no more than five minutes in length, with the use of a video camera.
Students must know that comparing and contrasting is important because it helps differentiate what similarities are and what differences are. Also, being able to make relationships in noticing similarities or differences in our past compared to our future or present lets us learn from our mistakes and grow as a country or individual.
Anticipatory Questions/Activity:
Oral Anticipatory Set Questions/Activity:
What do you think is similar and different between these two pictures?
What do you think that graphic organizer on your desk is for?
Do you know what this graphic organizer is called?
What do you think the words compare and contrast mean?
Body of Lesson Plan: Segment #1
(Artifact: link to real world, website, book, picture, etc.)
*Students being able to compare and contrast is a great skill to have because it helps differentiate the learning process and helps students be able to critically think.
*Venn diagram graphic organizer.
*Various picture to have students compare and contrast.
Segment #2
(Factual information/Vocab
Includes sample feedback loop)
Does our past sometimes affect our future?
Student Answer:
Yes!
What is a Venn diagram?
Student Answer:
It shows us comparing and contrasting two different things!
*Teacher will already have placed Venn diagram graphic organizers on students desks before they come back from lunch.
*Students will go through anticipatory set activity and lesson.
*Students will research historical events and current events and compare and contrast those two topics.
*Students, after gathering information from their textbooks, the computer, etc., will record themselves with a partner hosting a 5 minute class news segment comparing and contrasting a historical event to a current event.
Segment #4
(Detailed directions on how to complete activity)
1.) Start with Anticipatory Set Questions/Activity:
What do you think that graphic organizer is for on your desks? (Allow students to think about this question for 3-5 seconds)
Student Answers:
To put something in the circles..
Well yes you do put something in the circles! Does anyone know what this graphic organizer is called?
Acceptable Student Answer:
No.
The graphic organizer that you each have on your desk is called a Venn diagram, now keep this in mind while we complete a little activity okay?
Here we have a Venn diagram and pictures of a lion and a giraffe. Who can tell me what the similarities are between these two animals?
Acceptable Student Answers:
Answers will vary:
They both have four legs.
They both have ears.
The lion is a carnivore and the giraffe is an omnivore.
Great observations everyone! Now when we find the similarities and differences between something we call this comparing and contrasting. When we compare something we are finding the things similar or things that are the same between those two or however many pieces (which can be pictures). Whereas, contrasting is when we find the differences or things that are different between our example of our two pictures we just compared and contrasted.
So with our graphic organizers being Venn diagrams which I told you to remember in the back of your mind, we compare and contrast things with this graphic organizer.
(Draw Venn diagram on the whiteboard)
So let's continue with our lion and giraffe example, this Venn diagram may look a little confusing, but don't worry we're going to learn how to work with one of these!
Basically each individual circle represents what we are contrasting or finding the differences of! So with that in mind, the lion picture (point to one of the circles, and label LION - CONTRAST) information that is different from the giraffe would go in his circle. Where, the same thing would apply to the giraffe's own circle (point to the other circle and label GIRAFFE - CONTRAST), when we use a Venn diagram it's like we're at first seeing how they're different and write it in the individual circles, and then see how they are similar in the whole Venn diagram in where the circles lay on top of one another (point to overlapping space in between circles - COMPARING).
For example:
Someone mentioned that a lion is a carnivore, meaning that they eat meat instead of plants. So we would put how he is different from the giraffe in his own circle (do as example just stated).
Then on the other hand, the giraffe is different because he is an omnivore and only eats plants
So where would I put just the giraffe's difference on our Venn diagram? (Point to each section, 1st=lion section, 2nd=similarity section, 3rd=giraffe section).
Student Answer:
Right there! Where it's labeled GIRAFFE - CONTRAST.
Good job, but why would we put his information here?
Student Answer:
Because he's different than the lion and his information goes in his own circle!
Great job you guys! Now to take our Venn diagram a little further, the part in the middle where we labeled COMPARING, where the two circles are laying on each other, what do you think that part is since we already found how the lion and giraffe are different?
Student Answer:
That's the comparing section!
What do we do in the comparing section?
Student Answer:
In the comparing section we tell how the animals are similar or the same!
Wow, you are all doing such a great job with this Venn diagram labeling and understanding it! Want to call it a day?
Student Answer:
YES!!!!!
Nahhhh, tricked ya! (laugh) We still have to do an assignment and such with Venn diagrams.
Well back to our lesson, so someone mentioned earlier in the lion and giraffe example of both animals having four legs...so where would I label it on our Venn diagram? (Call on random student to come show you)
Student Answer:
This one, because these circles are laying on top of one another and we are talking about how they are alike now!
Good job! Okay, so in a sense with this activity before we learned about Venn diagrams, we were already talking about comparing and contrasting when I asked you guys to find the similarities and differences between the lion and giraffe pictures. So you already were doing comparing and contrasting without even realizing it (sound excited)!
So before we move onto an assignment what does comparing and contrasting mean and where are they labeled on a Venn diagram? (Call on random students)
Student Answers:
Compare is when we are finding differences; each object has its own circle.
Contrast is when we find the similarities; where the circles are laying on top of one another.
Very good, so now that you guys are Venn diagram and comparing and contrasting experts let's put you to the test! This assignment I'm having you to compare a historical event to a current event with a partner. You are allowed to use your textbook, a Venn diagram, computers, etc. to find any information on a historical event to your choosing (recommend using their books to find a topic), and then any information on a current event (recommend using the computers). When you are finished finding information on both the historical and current event on how they are the same and how they are different, write your information in the right spaces in your Venn diagram, feel free to label your parts if you have to (I even sometimes do this!). After you have filled out all your information come to me to get my initials and approval for you to start filming our class news segment on comparing and contrasting historical events to current events. Then once everyone is done we will watch the videos after you uploaded them to your class YouTube channel. Your movie must last no longer than 5 minutes in length, and you and your partner must come up with three compares and 3 contrasts to meet the requirements for this assignment. To get the online template for your Venn diagram please use this website, because all you have to do is fill out the information right on the computer and then print it! Also, I have Miss Tabor's class login information for all of you guys to use so that way you can print out your Venn diagrams.
So with that said, I'm going to let you work on your stuff the rest of the hour and if you have any questions please ask me! Plus, make sure you choose the 2-circle Venn diagram. If you need further assistance please look at Miss Tabor's Jing on how to work this website for your Venn diagram!
(60 minutes/1 Hour)
Segment #1
(Artifact: link to real world, website, book, picture, etc.)
*Venn diagram graphic organizer.
*Various picture to have students compare and contrast.
(Factual information/Vocab
Includes sample feedback loop)
*Vocabulary:
(Includes multiple intelligence strategy:
Hands-on, small groups, reteaching strategy)
*Students will go through anticipatory set activity and lesson.
*Students will research historical events and current events and compare and contrast those two topics.
*Students, after gathering information from their textbooks, the computer, etc., will record themselves with a partner hosting a 5 minute class news segment comparing and contrasting a historical event to a current event.
(Detailed directions on how to complete activity)